Friday, April 17, 2009

It's that time again... Apartment Therapy's annual Small Cool Apartment contest. Living in less space can be a great way to spend less money, and the apartments showcased in this contest are always inspiring! Though there may be a few design touches that aren't cheap, Apartment Therapy usually has a lower-budget aesthetic than other home design resources, so it's been a web fave of mine for years.

I currently live in under 700 square feet. My previous apartment was about 240 square feet. Neither place would win this contest, but I have always felt that I had a neat, cheerful and cute apartment that I was happy to come home to.

How big is your living space? How much do you pay for it monthly? Tell us where you live so all the New Yorkers won't start having heart attacks!

$1118/mo (taxes, insurance, interest, principle). That's actually higher than normal because I was short on taxes last year and my escrow is making up the difference this year. Normally it will be more like $1000/mo.

I'll take cheap living and occasional hurricanes over months of snow any day!

Have no mortgage on it. All paid for. Current selling price is around 140-160K USD. I pay 110 USD which covers security, landscaping and hot/cold water. Heating is separate and depends on the season. Last month I paid 115 USD for heating which to me is outrageous but it is central heating so I cannot do anything about it. I never need air-conditioning during the summer. I have a a standing fan which I use may be for a week or so. It is usually nice and cool in the apartment due to its location in the complex.

950ish sq ft, third floor of a brownstone in south Brooklyn. One bedroom plus den, floor-through, tiny, tiny bathroom and kitchen, but large bedroom, separate dining and original features. $2300 per month.

2215 sq ft, 2 story house sitting on almost 2 acres of grass (back level), no rear neighbors, in suburban Atlanta, GA. $1260 per month mortgage, inc. taxes and insurance. Never appreciated it as much as when I finished reading these NY posts (although I may trade for the food/culture/opportunities)

1250 sq ft, duplex in the bottom two floors of a brownstone in Hoboken, across the river from Manhattan (5 min walk to subway). 2 beds, 1 1/2 baths, washer/dryer and an ancient dishwasher. Also private access to the backyard. $2400 to rent

We looked at buying in hoboken, but 2 beds go for 450k to 600k, and the taxes alone on that would be >$1000 per month!

Long time lurker here and my first comment on a really good blog... 230 square foot studio in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia. Rent runs me $575 a month. Electric bill averages 15 bucks a month while water, gas, and cable included in rent. Work is just 2 blocks away so no car payment or monthly parking fees. Pay 20 bucks roundtrip on the China Town Bus to see the family back in NY every so often. As a native NY'er I am amazed at how living in a city less than 100 miles from Manhattan, the cost of living is SOOOOOO much less!

1 bed, 1 bath, <300 sq.ft. We pay 1000 GBP / $1480. 15 minutes from central London, right across from good transportation links. Close to work for both of us. No garden, no balcony, but newly refurbished and in up and coming neighborhood.

About 1000 square foot two bed, two bath apartment with 2 balconies, second floor, two car spaces and storage in underground parking. Less than one mile from the city centre in Canberra, Australia. $A1955 per month = $US1400 currently.

1 bed/1 bath apartment in The Woodlands, TX. about 600 sq.ft. Very small bedroom but amazing kitchen with large island and granite. Free yoga, pilates and weights class in the gym and built next to waterway so free kayaks any time. $740/mth. Washer dryer included. Also overlooks the pavilion where all the big concerts are so we get to listen/see for free from the balcony.

2,108 square feet, 4br/2ba house for $1900 a month. Four roomates makes it only $425 rent per month (plus utilities). But we have a yard, parking for four cars behind the house, laundry, and we are 15 minutes from downtown Nashville.

1308 s.f. 3 bed/2 ba renovated home 3 miles east of downtown Atlanta. Hardwoods, screened porch, 1/4 acre corner lot. Payment is 1355/month (including ins and a 210/month tax payment b/c we are within the city of Atlanta). I LOVE MY HOUSE!

about 600 sq feet in brooklyn, ny for a recently reduced from $1800 to $1650 a month. 4th floor (very steep) walk-up with no laundry in building and terrible (for NY) public transportation. i want to move to where these other commenters live!

1750 sq. feet, 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath two-story house outside of Houston, TX for $740 a month. It was a foreclosure in early 2007 that we bought for $114,000 and put 20% down...we overpay every month, so it will take less than 11 years to pay it off...8 years to go. :) You could retire early and move to Houston, but I think that would be like me moving to New York...not what I'm used to!

Tiny, crappy, cold, minimialistic apartment with badly sloping floors. Wages here are way below national average, and I'm underpaid, so unfortunately it's all I can afford. At 280 sqft it's an adventure!

About Me

My name is Madame X, and I am a 40-something single woman living in Brooklyn, NY. I write about how much money I make, what I spend it on, how much I save, how I budget, my home-buying experiences, my financial goals and ambitions, my thoughts on class and what it means to be rich or poor, and anything else that relates to money. (More about me here, here, and here.)If you take any of my advice, do so at your own risk as I am not really qualified to give it. If you have advice to share, please do, and many thanks!Ad proceeds from this site are donated to worthy causes.